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PDP Calls For Wechie’s Prosecution …CLO Dissociates Self From Comments …Wechie Bribed To Launder Amaechi’s Image – Wike’s Aide
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to arrest and prosecute the leader of Integrity Group, Livingstone Wechie, for lying under oath before the upper chamber against the former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Samuel Nwanosike, who made the call in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital while reacting to Wechie’s outburst on a live television programme “Focus Nigeria” on African Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja, said the party was surprised that Wechie, who took an oath before the Senate on October 12, 2015, will reappear on a television programme to eat his words.
Nwanosike challenged Wechie to present facts that the past government did not embezzle state funds.
According to him, “I want to state clearly that from what we have seen today, men who lack integrity and character ought not to be taken seriously. This same Livingstone Wechie swore to an oath in 2015 before Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee, that he was not sponsored by anybody, and that anything he had said was based on his investigation.
“The Senate should know that the document he presented to them belongs to him. With the current development, it showed that Wechie lied on oath, and the Senate should summon him.
“If he is being compelled to do what he had just done, then he should be used as an example because he thinks that Nigerians can be taken for a ride. Since he said that the documents were given to him by some people in the Rivers State Government, he should mention those who gave him the document,” Nwanosike said.
He, however, accused Wechie of working for the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, to launder his already maligned image.
Also in reaction to Wechie’s outburst, the South-South Zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) dissociated itself from the statements credited to Livingstone Wechie during a live television programme on AIT in Abuja, last Monday.
A statement by the CLO and signed by the Zonal Chairman, Uchegbu Karl Chinedu, said the various wild and scurrilous allegations Wechie bandied about did not represent the position of the CLO.
According to him, ’’We dissociate CLO from the said statements, and take exception to the claims by Wechie.
‘’This claim is just a figment of his imagination, as he was merely appointed a deputy director on publicity as a result of his closeness to the mass media (special assistant to the zonal chair), a position from which he has long been removed. The face of CLO in the South-South zone, as in other zones remains the zonal chairman, while the zonal director or zonal administrative secretary (ZAS), takes charge of the administration of the zonal office’’, the statement noted.
“It would be recalled that Wechie admitted, in his live appearance on a television programme that he told lies, on behalf of his Integrity Group, and not on behalf of CLO. We, therefore, urge the relevant agencies to further investigate these lies and do the needful,” the CLO said.
According to Chinedu, “the CLO stands by the actions and interventions we made in the past as they were made in the interest of the public and the suffering masses.”
He said the CLO has remained resolute in its campaign for enthroning good governance, protecting democracy and human rights, stressing that all its interventions have fallen under these mandates.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, has described the recent claims by President of Integrity Group, Livingstone Wechie, of a non-governmental organisation that the corruption charges against former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi were concocted by the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration, as a cheap blackmail and image laundering for the ex-governor.
Nwakaudu, in a statement, last Monday, shortly after Wechie appeared on Africa Independent Television (AIT)’s ‘Focus Nigeria”, stated that there was no time Wechie acted on behalf of Rivers State Government or the governor since he runs his private organisation.
In his words, “Mr Wechie, himself, on his different television and radio appearances, stated unequivocally that he was not on the sponsorship of the Rivers State Government. With the benefit of hindsight, the interviewers helped to keep everything in the right context. Whatever Livingstone Wechie said on Focus APC is unfounded falsehood. His thoughts on the programme are the baseless concoction of a blackmail trader who hides under the cover of activism”.
Nwakaudu asserted that public should not be deceived with the ploy by former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was working round the clock to launder his image, and of which, Wechie is just one of his recently hired hands.
According to the Rivers State governor’s media aide, Mr Wechie’s action is in reaction of failure of the state governor to use state resources to fund Wechie’s activities, adding that Wike is a transparent leader who will never be drawn into the sponsorship of integrity challenged charlatans under any guise.
He explained that the Wike administration was built on the rule of law, hence, nothing is done outside the prescriptions of the law.
“Long before Governor Wike won elections in 2015, it was public knowledge Amaechi misappropriated fund that accrued to Rivers State. Amaechi on May 27, 2015, declared Rivers State broke, stressing that Wike will have no resources to pay salaries or do projects,” he noted.
The special assistant said the overwhelming evidence of corruption charges against the immediate past administration was affirmed by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the sale of valued assets of the state and which the Minister of Transportation failed to appear before but rather rushed to court.
Unfortunately, he stated that the court had upheld the action of the Rivers State governor to investigate the former administration, stressing that Amaechi’s failure at the Court of Appeal to challenge the constitution of the judicial commission further underscores the sanctity of the action.
He said, “It is imperative to declare that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the sale of valued assets of the state sat in the public. All the documents about the fraud of that administration were circulated in the public domain with journalists writing about the activities of the commission, publishing tendered documents. Nothing was hidden from the people of the state.”
The Chairman of the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry into the sale of Valued State Assets and other related matters, Justice George Omereji informed the governor that the commission received 442 exhibits, 27 memoranda while 25 witnesses testified before it. It confirmed that N53billion was diverted by Amaechi and his officials.
Nwakaudu described Wechie’s claims as “a mindless sponsored act of criminal blackmail”, which reeks of conspiracy to help embattled Amaechi. Otherwise, the EFCC and the ICPC that Livingstone Wechie wrote countless petitions to, ought to arrest him and prosecute him for lying on oath”.
He maintained that the current scheme to paint Wike black will fizzle out like the DSS-sponsored protests in Abuja, where they accused the governor of sponsoring activities to destabilise the Federal Government.
“The Wike administration is built on the mandate freely given by the Rivers people. These winds of mischief can only strengthen it”, he assured.
Kevin Nengia
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the 33.5-kilometre Elele–Umudioga–Egbeda–Ubimini–Ikiri–Omoku dual carriageway is nearing completion and will be ready for inauguration by early May.
Speaking after inspecting the project last Wednesday, the governor disclosed that the N80.8 billion road project, currently at about 90 per cent completion, is on track for delivery before the end of April.
The project, which links Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas, was awarded to Craneburg Construction Company with a 24-month completion timeline.
Fubara expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, describing the road as a landmark achievement of his administration.
He noted that beyond infrastructure, the project symbolises progress and purposeful governance.
Highlighting its economic and security value, the governor said the road serves as a vital link to Omoku, a major gas hub, and would significantly enhance business activities in the area.
He recalled that the corridor was previously notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery but said the ongoing development had transformed the security outlook.
According to him, improved accessibility will enable security agencies to respond swiftly to emergencies, effectively curbing criminal activities that once plagued the route.
Fubara commended the contractor for adhering to the project timeline, expressing confidence that the road will soon be completed and opened to the public.
Recall that the governor had, during the flag-off ceremony in May 2024, disclosed that the project is funded from the State’s internally generated revenue savings.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
